James: I'm Trump's Best Hope To Carry The Republican Ticket

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 01/22/2026) The gubernatorial campaign of U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) released a 63-second video on Thursday that makes the case that their candidate is President Donald Trump's best chance to see Republicans carry Michigan for its congressional candidates. Otherwise, if James is not successful, Republicans are at risk of losing the U.S. House and Trump will be impeached.

The video comes two days after a dark money outfit that may have connections to likely GOP candidate Perry Johnson spent $141,000 in Detroit media to make the case that James is running for governor despite the wishes of Trump to run for re-election in the politically competitive 10th Congressional District.

“This ad makes the stakes unmistakable," said James spokesperson Hannah Osantowske. "If Republicans lose Michigan, Democrats will move to impeach President Trump and grind the America First agenda to a halt. John James is the conservative fighter who can win and who Michigan families can trust to hold the line.”

The James campaign called the video a “statewide ad,” although it's not clear if there's any money behind it. The political ad tracking website, AdImpact, did not have a record of James's campaign putting money behind the video.

The Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) sent out a media blast Thursday morning that Michigan First Principles, the anti-James entity, “bought out” nearly all the ads on The Detroit News homepage Thursday

“It’s clear that John James is panicking—and now he’s desperately doing everything he can to try and show loyalty to Trump no matter how much his failed policies hurt Michigan,” said MDP spokesperson Derrick Honeyman.